Review: File Under 13 Suspicious Incidents - Lemony Snicket

File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents by Lemony Snicket
Genre: Middle Grade, mystery, comedy
Published on April 1, 2014
Published by Little, Brown Books
Pages: 259
Read From: 10.5.14 - 10.5.14













SYNOPSIS

Attention! 

Please find herein thirteen (13) cases investigated by Lemony Snicket during his apprenticeship in the town of Stain'd-by-the-Sea. Every detail of his inquiries into local kidnappings, violent vandalism, and food theft has been described and cataloged in these pages. For security reasons, the conclusions have been carefully hidden. You can find them easily at the back of the book. 

If you are not a member of our secret organization, hello there. This is a blank book which you shouldn't read.

Review

File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents follows thirteen short stories that take place in Stain'd-by-the-Sea sometime after/during the events of Book #2 in this series: "When Did You See Her Last?" At first glance, none of them are connected, but I know Lemony Snicket's writing. And I know that having the conclusions to each mystery at the back of the book is no accident. I also know that there is a code hidden in this book - involving the five or so extra endings that don't match any of the stories. And it makes me so sad, because I no longer have the time I used to have to delve totally into the world of Snicket and crack the code. :-(

That being said, this is a very entertaining, quick read for those waiting for Book #3: "Shouldn't You Be in School?" It has Snicket's classic humor, and more weirdness that makes Stain'd-by-the-Sea so much fun, and lots more new - and familiar - characters! I had a lot of fun reading these strange mysteries and trying to solve them before flipping to the back of the book for the solution. The mysteries vary in interest level. Some of them are a little bleh, but most of them are intriguing - and even the bleh ones have a good dose of humor.

I have no doubt that Snicket will tie this book into the others. He has a tendency of doing that. And long-time Snicketeers, you will want to read this because we get to meet some old characters from A Series of Unfortunate Events, like a certain person with a cloud of smoke obscuring his features!!

This is a must for any Snicketeer.